Historic sex abuse claims heard

A man has made his court appearance charged with multiple sex offences.

Harry Anthony Collier, 61, of Mythop Court, Mythop Road, Blackpool faces 20 allegations said to have been committed over a 16-year period between 1973 and 1989.

Blackpool Magistrates sent Collier for trial at Preston Crown Court where he will make his first appearance on April 19.

Collier faces six allegations of indecently assaulting girls aged between four and nine and five similar allegations against another girl also aged between four and nine.

He faces three charges of raping a girl aged between seven and nine and a serious sexual offence against a girl aged seven.He faces a charge of raping a woman and aiding and abetting another man to rape a girl under 16.

He also faces on charge of taking an indecent picture of a girl and two charges of inciting a girl to commit acts of gross indecency.

The offences are said to have taken place in Blackpool and Manchester.